Reciprocating carriage drive



March 17, 1953 H. w. GILBERT :TAL 2,631,457

RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE DRIVE Filed July 11, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l I85 k I55 IN VEN TORS Herman Wa/fer Gilbert Walter De/chmann ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 H. w. GILBERT ETAL 2,631,457

RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE DRIVE Filed July 11, 1947 I 5 Sheets-Shdt 2 INVENTORS L Her/nan Walter Gilbert 53 22 '23 Walter Deich mann ATTORNEY March 1953 H. w. GILBERT ETAL RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE DRIVE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11, 1947 INVENTORS Herman WgHer Gulbert WQher Delchmunn ATTORNEY H. w. GILBERT ET AL RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE DRIVE March 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 11, 1947 IOI L1 8 INVENTORS Herman WQHerGIIberT Walrer Deichmann ATTORNEY H. w. GILBERT ETAL RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE DRIVE March 1.7, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 11, 1947 mi mm NM m H a u m Wm D a r mm 6 0 HW B ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 RECIPROCATING CARRIAGE DRIVE Herman Walter Gilbert, Forest Hills, and Walter Deichmann, Elmont, N. Y., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Cutting Room Appliances Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 11, 1947, Serial No. 760,388

8 Claims.

' This invention relates to cloth laying-up machines of the type which operate automatically and has for one of its objects the provision of a cloth layingup machine of the character described having certain novel constructional features representing an improvement over that shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 2,360,859, dated October 24, 1944, for Automatic Cloth Laying-Up Machine and which render the operation of the said machine more eificient.

Another object of our invention is to provide in a cloth laying-up machine of the character described novel means whereby the change of speed of travel of the carriage and the reversal of the direction thereof are automatically and substantially simultaneously rendered eiiective. Still another object of our invention is to provide in a cloth laying-up machine of the character described novel and improved mechanism and arrangements thereof for driving the carriage from a source of electrical power.

A still further object of our invention is to provide in a cloth laying-up machine of the class described, a gear box and motor unit for driving and controlling the speed and direction of movement of the carriage which shall be characterized by its compactness and which shall consist of certain constructional arrangements representing general improvements in the art.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent from thedescription to follow or will hereinafter be more fully pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a ide elevational view of a cloth layingup machine constructed and arranged in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken substantially alon the lines 3-3 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of the driving and controlling mechanism contained in the gear box unit carried by the reciproca'ting carriage in association with the motor, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 2;

"Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, but illustrating a further step in the operation thereof; and

s Fig. 8 i a cross-sectional view taken substantiallyjalon'g the line 8-8 of Fig. 6. i

;- Be ferring now in detail to the drawings we have illustrated therein a cloth laying-up machine of the type described in the said Patent No. 2,360,869 and adapted for use in cutting rooms of manufacturers of ready to wear garments in automatically laying-up or arranging in superposed layers cloth from a bolt or from any other suitable supply source for the purpose of ultimately cutting the same into component garment parts.

Such cloth laying machines generally comprise a carriage which is caused to travel back and forth on a long table during the course of which the cloth is arranged in superposed layers.

In Figs. 1 to 4 we have shown a carriage generally designated by the numeral 20 having pairs of side wheels 2! and 22 designed to ride on tracks 23 adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of a long table 25. The goods to be arranged in layers is carried by the carriage 2E) and guided and fed out to the table in any suitable manner known to the art, such as, for example, the arrangement shown and described in the copending application, serial No. 370,784 of Messrs. Gilbert, Dexter and Deichmann, filed December 19, 1940.

Mounted on the side frame of the carriage 20 for movement therewith is an electric motor M, of sufficient power to cause the carriage 20 to be driven back and forth along the table through the mechanism and in a manner soon to be described. The motor M is connected to a suitable source of electric power by any well known electrical connecting means, not shown.

Also mounted on the frame of the carriage 2B in close proximity to the motor M, is a casing 30 housing a control unit for controlling the speed and direction of movement of the carriage. The

said control unit comprises a transmission system including change of speed clutches and change of direction clutches which represent an improvement over the change of speed and direction clutches shown and described in the said prior U. S. Patent No. 2,360,869 and which will hereinafter be more fully described.

The motor M is provided with a pulley 3i mounted on the motor shaft M which is interconnected to a pulley 3.2 by a suitable belt 33, the said pulley 32 being mounted on a shaft 34 jour-' naled in opposite side walls of the casing 30. Through suitable transmission mechanism with in the casing 38, which will be described hereinafter in detail, the rotation of the shaft 34 by the operation of the motor M will cause a shaft fit to rotate, the said shaft 40 being rotatably supported in the back wall of the casing 39. Transversely suitably mounted across a pair of spaced side frames 36 and 3? of the carriage 2% is a suitably rotatably mounted driving shaft 58 At a point adjacent the frame 33 the shaft 38 i provided with a pair of sprocket wheels 56 and 5| simultaneously rotatable therewith. Fixed to the axle, supporting one of the rear wheels for rotation therewith is a sprocket wheel 52 (see Fig. Similarly a sprocket wheel 53 is fixed to the axle supporting the other rear Wheel 22, for rotation therewith. A relatively short sprocket chain 5 interconnects the sprocket wheels 5% and 52 and a relatively long sprocket chain 55 interconnects the sprocket wheels 59 and 53. The shafts 38 and 55 are in aligrhnent and suitably interconnected. for simultaneous rotation by a pair of cooperating clutch members and 5? (see Fig. 2).

It is thus seen from the above described construction that when the shaft if] is caused to rotate, the shaft 38 will rotate therewith to cause simultaneous positive drive rotation of the rear wheels 22 and of the traction wheels 25 to cause movement of the carriage along the table for effectively layingup the cloth in the well known manner. It is noted that the direction of movement of the carriage will depend upon the direction of rotation of the shaft In accordance with my invention, as shown in Figs. 2 and i, the drive shaft is journal-ed in a bearing member which in turn is pivotally supported on a rod 59 carried by the frames 36 and '3! of the carriage. The bearing member 58 is provided with a projecting lug 8i which is designed to abut a fixed abutment 52 on the frame to limit the counter-clockwise rotational rotation of the said bearing member 58.

The above described construction is designed to adjustably simultaneously take up the slack of the chains 55 and 55. A set screw threadedly passing through the lug portion 55 of the bearing member 58 and engaging the abutment member 52 serves to adjust the desired tension of the chains 5d and It is particularly noted thatthe position of pivot point is such that an adjustment of the set screw ts'will swing the bearing member 58 on its pivot 55 to tighten or loosen the relatively long chain a greater amount than the relatively short chain 5t so that there will be an equal automatic and simultaneous taking up or providing slaclgof the two unequal length chains.

The means for causing rotational movement of the shaft 45 to drive the carriage in one direction along the table and then automatically reversing the direction of movement at a predetermined point will now be described:

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates in detail the mechanism of the control unit and represents a lower level area A of the control unit and an upper level area B, the latter being positioned slightly to one side of the former for the sake of clarity; it being understood that in actual construction the part B is directly above the part A.

The upper shaft 3- 5, carrying the driven pulley 32 is journaled longitudinally of the casing in the end wall thereof. n this shaft t l there is mounted for rotation therewith a pinion t. Journaled in opposite end walls of the casing 35 is a second upper longitudinal shaft 52 parallel to the shaft 34. Mounted on the shaft 55 for rotation therewith is a gear 52 in mesh with pinion 55. Also mounted on the same shaft 5i for rotation therewith and spaced from the gear 52 is a pinion 53. Journaled in the end Walls of the casing 35 is a first lower longitudinal shaft 5% having normally idly, mounted thereon a gear 55 in mesh with the gear 52 and a gear 56 normally independent of rotation with the shaft 54 and fixed to a standard type clutch cup 5? which in turn may be selectively made to engage or disengage the said shaft 55 for rotation therewith. The gear 55 is also normally independent of rotation with the shaft 54 and is fixed to a standard type clutch cup 58 which may be made to engage or disengage the shaft 5d. Fixed to the shaft 5 3 for rotation therewith are the gears 59 and 58.

A second lower longitudinal shaft 6| parallel to the shaft is also journaled in the end casing walls. This shaft 5! carries gears 52 and 53 normally independent of rotation with the said shaft ill but which are fixed to clutch cups E4 and 55 respectively, means such as is shown in Patent No. 2,360,869 beingprovided to selectively engage and disengage the clutch cups 64 and 55 with the shaft 6 6. Also mounted on the shaftti for rotation therewith is a small spiral gearfit. Mounted on the shaft 55 for rotation therewith and in direct mesh with the spiral gear 53 on shaft 5% is a large spiral gear 5?.

It is thus seen from the above described con struction that when the clutch cups '55 and "58 are caused to engage the shafts 5i and "54 *respectively in the manner which will hereinafter be described, While at the'same time leaving the clutch cups E i and '51 disengaged, the'shaft lll will be made to rotate in one direction to cause movement of the carriage in one direction through the drive shaft 38, as follows: 7 K

When the shaft 34 is rotated by-the driven pulley 32, the pinion 55 will cause rotation of the shaft 51 through the gear 52. The shaft 54 will then be rotated by the meshing of the gear 52 with the pinion 55, to cause simultaneous rota tion of the pinion 55. The pinion 68 will in turn transmit rotational movementto the shaftffil by means of an idler'gear ll! freely mounted on the shaft 5!, which meshes with the gear 60 and also at the same time meshes with thegear 63 fixed to the clutch cup 55. The spiral gear 56 on the shaft 5! will cause rotation of the shaft 55 through the spiral gear 67. h

To reverse the direction of movement of the shaft and consequently the direction of travel of the carriage, the clutch cups 65 and 58am disengaged from the shafts 6i and "54 respectively and at the same time the clutch cups! and15 1 are made to engage the said shafts'fil 21111158113- spectively. In such instance it is noted thatwhen the pinion 5G causes rotation of the shaft 5! through the gear 52, the pinion 53 will'mesh with the gear 56 which will rotate the shaft 54 throu h the engagement of the clutch cup 5'l'. The gear 59 being fixed to the shaft 55 will rotate therewith and since the said gear 59 is in mesh. with the gear 62, it will cause rotation of the shaft 6! carrying the spiral gear S5'and thence through the spiral gear 61 the shaft 45 will b'e rotated in the opposite direction to that previouslydescribed.

In accordance with this invention the following arrangement and design is provided so that with the change of direction of movement ofthe carriage as just described there will'be a substantially simultaneous change of speed. The purpose of this is so that, as the'carriage travels along a high speed for effective operation, when it reaches a certain point near the end ofits run in one direction, the speed is automatically slowed down, to'cause theca'r'riage meat/error .a short distance at low speed to avoid too great a shock of stopping and then when the change of direction of movement occurs there will be a simultaneous change from low to high speed for effective speedy operation of the carriage in the opposite direction, and so on at each end of the table.

Referring again to Fig. of the drawings it is noted that if the clutch cup 58 engages the shaft 54, then as hereinbefore described the gear 52 driven by pinion 58 will drive the shaft 54 through the gear 55, and the shaft 6| will be driven through the gears 59 and 62 which are in mesh and fixed to their respective shafts. It is noted that in this instance high speed will result because of the fact that the relatively large gear 52.wi11 drive the relatively small gear 55 (the ratio in the casing being 2 to 1), the gears 59 and 52 being in l to 1 ratio. It is noted at this point that when a change of direction occurs, because of the fact that the clutch 55 engages the shaft 6| as hereinbefore explained, the carriage will still be driven at high speed because, instead of the effective meshing operation of the l to 1 gears 59 and 52, there will be thel to 1 ratio of speed between shafts 54 and 6! through the gears 60, 63 and NB.

For low speed movement of the carriage it is necessary for the clutch cup 5'! to engage the shaft 54 (which, in accordance with the present arrangement will automatically disengage the clutch cup 53). Slow speed will result because of the fact that the pinion 53 on shaft 51, caused 'to rotate because of the pinion 5E] and gear 52,

will mesh with the gear 56 to turn the shaft 54. As previously explained the rotation of shaft 54% will cause simultaneous rotation of the shaft 6! on a 1 to 1 ratio basis through the gears 59 and 62. The low speed drive will be due to the fact tion H in which is slidably mounted a spring pressed plunger 1'8 having a roller 19 fixed at the free end thereof. Freely rotatably supported on the lower shaft 75 is a fork member 80, the legs of which straddle the shaft 54 and disposed between the clutch cups 5? and 58, and having an arcuate track portion 8| uppermost. The roller 19 is designed to ride in the track 8|.

Also fixed to the shaft for rotation therewith is a fork member 82, the legs of which straddle the shaft 5| between the clutch cups 6 5 and 65. Instead of providing the member 82 with an arcuate track portion, similar to the track portion 8! of the member 85, we mount a separate arcuate track member 84 (see Fig. 6) similar in purpose and function to the arcuate track 8|, directly on the shaft 15 for rotation therewith. Cooperating with said track 84 to ride therein is a roller 85 carried by a spring pressed slidable plunger 86 housed in a member 87 which in turn is pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot shaft 88 the said pivot shaft 88 being supported by the rear wall of the casing 30.

t is thus seen from the above described construction that when the shaft 14 is rotated, in

aclockwise direction, as viewed from Fig. 5, the

ro1ler19 will ride on the track 8| and cause the fork member 80 to rotate freely about the shaft 15 in a counter-clockwise direction to cause the legs thereof to slidably move the clutch cup 5'! to actuate the same to engage the shaft 54, simultaneously disengaging the clutch cup 58 therefrom. Similarly, it is seen that rotational movement of the roller 85 in the track 84 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from Fig. 6, will cause rotation of the shaft 15 in a clockwise direction. The fork member 82 being fixed to the shaft '15 will also rotate in a clockwise direction to cause the clutch cup to engage the shaft 51 and simultaneously therewith to cause disengagement of the clutch cup 64 with the said shaft Bl.

It is further noted that rotational movement of the shafts l4 and 15 in opposite directions from that just described will correspondingly reverse the operation of the fork members 80 and 82 to cause engagement and disengagement of opposing sets of clutch cups 58 and 65 respectively.

For reasons which will soon become apparent the track 84 (shown in Fig. 6) and cooperating roller 35 and member 81 are located outside of the rear wall of the casing 30.

In accordance with this invention the following control means are provided for cooperative action with the above described mechanism so that when the carriage travels along the table in one direction and reaches a predetermined point along the table the speed will be automatically changed from high to low and after proceeding for a predetermined relatively short distance at such low speed the direction of movement of the carriage will be reversed and substantially simulaneously therewith the speed will be changed back from low to high. The same cycle of operation will be repeated at the end of the run in the opposite direction and so on continuously. The time in which the operation of the cloth laying apparatus is in low speed is thus greatly reduced.

As shown, generally, in Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings, at a predetermined distance from each end of the table there are provided a left hand cam unit and a right hand cam unit both similar in function and design. For convenience in description the left hand cam unit only will be described. As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and '7, this cam unit comprises a relatively flat rigid body member I80, provided at its upper end with lugs I81 having longitudinal slots adapted to receive therein the vertical portions 23a of the track 23 located at the front longitudinal edge of the table. Set screws I82 are provided to maintain the cam unit in a position depending from the table top. The main body portion use is provided with a pair of downward integral extensions I83 and [84, the extension I84 being lower than the extension I83, the purpose of which will soon become apparent.

At the bottom of each extension there are provided outwardly disposed lugs I 83a and 18411.

. A cam bar I85 is pivotally mounted at one end is positioned :belowvthe table so 1 as to clear the I -track"- =23. -Rotatably mounted on the block 1 member 92..by-\means of apivot shaft 93 isa rocker arm comprising thearms 94 and'95. Pivotally attached to thefree end of the arm-:95:

by the pivot 95a is arbar 96. Fixed to the shaft 1 7d forrotationthere'withis a link 91. Pivotally attached tothefreeendof the link Sibymeans of the pivot 98 is a bar99v A rigidrod interconnects thebars 9 6 :and "99. It is thus *seen from the above described construction thatwhen therocker arm 94, 95 isrotated in a'clockwise Y direction abut the fixed pivot 93, the link' 9'l will move-frorn its dotted line position 91*(Fig.

6) tothe full line position 91 to cause'clockivise rotational movement of the shaft 14. 'This, in

:-turn, 'as previously explained will actuate the forlz-member'ilfl; to cause the clutch cup to engagethe :shaft' 54 and simultaneously disengage the clutch cup" 58 from-the said sh'aft 54, resulting-inithechange of speed "of the carriage from high: to. low speed.

Pivotally attached to the free end of the-rocker arm part-Skby means of'the pivot fllt'ris a roller J06, adaptedsto ride on the inclined bar "185 by. movement-of the carriagein the-"direction of the arroWXKFig. 6)- tocause rotation of the-rocker arm-'94; '95 about the pivot "83in a e clockwise direction to automaticallychangethe speed ofmovementof 'thecarriage from high to. low,r-as above described.

The following :means are employed for automatically :changing the-direction ofmovement of the carriage while itistraveling at low speed.

"-Pivotally "attached at one end thereof to the.

arm 9 by means of the pivot W5 is alever ltll. The saidlever 'l'tl is provided with a slotted opening 1:68 at the. opposite 'end' thereof which slidv ably and pivotallyreceives therein a pin 109,- the saidpin l eabeingfixedto a link HE).

A roller i l I mountedon the pin H39 and disposed on'the opposite side of the' lever "H3? from that ofthe link Mil, serves to hold'the 'pin tililcaptivein'the slot we. The link II!) ispivotally connected to apart li2,iof a rocker arm by a pivot H3 which,

' in :turn, is rotatably' mounted on' a pivot shaft "l5! tifixed-to :the casing 38. The other part fl 5 of the rocker arm :is pivotally connected to "one end -of; a'linlc *tifirbythe pivot ill, the op-posite end of thensaid-"link 5H6- being pivotaily attachedto anextencling bar portion 81a of the member 31. It is thus seen-from the above description that when the roller. 1% rides up on the'cani bar 185, thepin th. will strikethe bottom wall of the slot 152 and cause rotational movement ofthe rocker.

arm H2; H5 about the pivot lit in a'clo'ckwise direction. This action will cause the link "H6 to abutment member 128 fixed to a shaft I 2! :which in turn is fixed to the-casingwall 3i]:limits-the. clockwise rotational traveler the, member 81 :so

that the 11'01191'11-85 wilt; not leave its track 84. The abutment member 129 is sopositionedasrto bein the; path 10f movement of the extension 87a.

An abutment lug I fixed-to the'member:92 limits the rotational movement. of the rocker arm .94; 9-5111 Eli'fllOCkViiSfidiIBCfi'OIl and, an abutment lug-zi2li li-mitszgthe; rotational, movement of; the

. rocker g-a'rm-grild, j." 95-.:in; ai 'countereclockwise dimention.

Itis noted that the links 3 H l! and J i! Tare pm :v-ided With'adiacently disposed; fiange'abutments i Mi'iaand tma, respectively. Thesaid abutments i lilo-and M zaare slightly spaced from each other topermit a limited amount of relative rotational nmovernent between the links. .l.lll:and.i I2 .toiprovide a slightly delayed action for the rocker/arm H2; i1i6.and.-.links I 5. and .81 and prevent too sudden a jarzon the mechanism when'the'direction 'ofirmovement is reversed, as will now .be. ex-

' jplained.

After the roller 1%. has reachedtheposition 'shown iniFig. 6 of. theldrawings theaspeed of. the ::carriage; hasbeenalessened asabove described -;:=and'.continues toride at such slowerrspeed inithe J-QSEIHBI direction until .at theendiof its runand by 1; 5 the: following 'means the direction :of movement is reversed and simultaneously; therewith the its-peed is restored to high; so thatgtheicarriage begins its :travel vand; efiective .cloth laying operation without loss of" time.

1 Suitably mountedzon the frame of. the carriage foruaxialsliding movement withgrespectthereto is a bargitil (see'Fig 6). fFixed topthe barlfli! adjacent zone-end. thereof, and for: movement rtherewith isxan upwardlygprojecting abutment member 535 having a concaved inner surface I38.

. It is noted that-.thebar V139 and: the-concaved surface'i :are so positioned thatwhen the roller shit sin, thepositionatathe. top ofxthe Scam bar or the roller is in the position'shownyin' Fig. 6

rtheend i33awill :strike :up againsta; bumper member 556 (see Fig. 1) I in :axial alignment with the rod and suitably fixed 'to the table 23.

specttto the movement. of- ;the carriage. will cause the-surface 136 of the member l'to .swung over to the dotted line position H11 As-the carriage continues to travel in the same -.direction, after the'rod end: Uta strikes the bumper I59, the rod I36 will'be slidably moved in the direction of the arrow Yin Fig. dwith re- This engage the roller 1 l t andto-carry'the same along inthe direction-of the arrow Y. When this happensthe lever It? will be caused to rotate-in a clockwise direction about-the; pivot I05 to be The above. described action will'swing the'levers H0, 1 I2, the arm H5 and the link zl l6tovtheir dotted .line positionsnllfi H2 H5 and H6 respectively,.toi in turn swing the member 81 to its dotted lline position iil andthereby cause rotational movement-of theshaft l5 ina counter-clockwise. direction to reversethe direction of movement of the carriage as hereinbefore explained.

.Atthesametime, it is noted that the rocker arm 94,.I95has. been caused to rotate in a counterclockwisedirectionbtoraise therod- I00 to its ,dotted. line. position N36 to cause counter-clock- .wise rotational movement .oLthe shaft '14 and thereby restore the movement of the carriage to high. speed .as'. hereinbefore explained.

,.As.shown.in Fig. 7'of. the: drawings, when the carriage-has started to travelin the reverse direction,-,thatis, in thedirection opposite that of the. arrowY (Fig. 6) the roller 106 will ride un- .;..derneath these-am bar- |=to raise the same on its pivot 586 and freely pass above they bar support A B ita continue on its way.

When the carriage'has reached near the: end

.-ofits runfin .the".direction- 'opposite.that of the irarrowgY (Fig: 6)-.the=roller.l06'will ride. upon ';'l5

another: cam; bar 1-8 5.-in the Lrighthazidzendcam 9, unit to lessen the speed of travel in the same manner-as just described. The'rod I is provided with an enlarged abutment end I302) which is designed to strike an abutment l55 fixed to the table 23 to cause the said rod I30 to slidably move in the opposite direction. A second upstanding abutment member I51 similar in design and function to the memberI engages the roller I I I and pushes'the lever in! back to change the direction of movement of the carriage and simultaneously therewith to change the speed from low to high.

It is thus seen that the carriage will reciprocate continuously on the table to lay the cloth and will automatically near the end of its run in one direction slacken its speed and then after a predetermined period thereafter reverse its direction and simultaneously with the change in direction also change to high speed.

It is noted that the detailed construction of the pairs of clutch cups 51-, 58 and 64, 65 are not shown in the drawings since it is intended that any suitable type of well known clutch neans may be employed in practicing this invenion. I r

Also it is noted that in accordance with our invention we have been able to obtain an improved construction wherein two-directional movement of the carriage is obtained by a onedirectional running'motor, and we have been able to alter the speed of travel of the carriage without changing the speed of the running motor. In this latter connection it is pointed out that when the speed of travel of the carriage is changed from high to low speed, its inertia will drive the shaft 34 through'the gear chain at a speed of approximately three times greater than the normal speed of the motor shaft. To prevent this motion from being transmitted to the motor, which would cause the motor to act as a brake and thereby cause a jar in the operation of the carriage, an overrun clutch mechanism is employed. This over-run clutch mechanism is of any 'well known standard type, such as, for example, that known as free wheeling, and is incorporated in the pulley 32 in any suitable well known manner.

This arrangement of over-running clutch in the pulley 32 thus constitutes an important element in our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a cloth laying machine, a table, a 'carriage, traction wheels supporting said carriage upon said table for traversing the same, a motor carried by said carriage and adapted to be actuated from a power source, driven sprocket wheels rotatable with said tractions wheels, driving sprocket wheels, sprocket chains coupling said driven and driving sprocket wheels, a drive shaft journaled in said carriage, and carrying said driving sprocket wheels for rotation therewith, a power output shaft axially aligned with said drive shaft, clutch means releasably coupling said driving and power output shafts for rotation together, and means acting. between said motor :and said power output shaft for propelling said, carriage at any predetermined speed and according' to a preselected pattern of direction and operation.

2. The construction according toj claim l, characterized further in that saidv last mentioned means comprises ahousing carried by said carriage, said power'output shaft being journaled in the housing, a power input shaftjournaied in said housing, means coupling said mOl' Qr sand 10 power input shaft to drive the power input shaft, and gear means acting between said power input shaft and said power output shaft for driving said power output shaft in a predetermined direction and speed.

3. In a cloth laying machine of the character described, the combination of a carriage having wheels adapted to ride on a traction surface, a support for said traction surface, a motor carried by said carriage and adapted to be actuated from a power source, a drive shaft journaled in said carriage, means for driving said wheels from said drive shaft, means for rotating said drive shaft from said motor for propelling said carriage at predetermined rates of speed and according to a preselected pattern of direction and operation while said motor runs at substantially constant speed and in one direction, said last named means comprising a housing carried by said carriage, a power output shaft cooperatively interconnected with said drive shaft, said power output shaft being journaled in said housing, a power input shaft journaled in said housing, belt means coupling said motor shaft and said power input shaft to drive the power input shaft, a seventh gear mounted on said power input shaft for rotation therewith, a sixth shaft journaled in said housing, a pair of high and loW speed driving gears mounted on said sixth shaft for rotation therewith, said high speed gear being in mesh with said seventh gear whereby the sixth shaft is driven, a fourth shaft journaled in said housing, a pair of high and low speed driven gears mounted on said fourth 'shaft and intermeshing respectively with said high and low speed driving gears and normally free to rotate thereon, normally disengaged high and low speed clutches carried respectively by said high and low speed driven gears for selectively engaging either of said high or low speed driven gears with said fourth shaft to drive the same at either high or low speed, a fifth shaft journaled in said housing, gear means intercoupling said fifth shaft with said power output shaft to drive the latter, reverse and direct drive driven gears mounted on said fifth shaft and free to rotate thereon, reverse and direct drive normally disengaged clutches carried by said fifth shaft driven gears for selectively engaging them with said fifth shaft to drive the latter, reverse and direct drive driving gears mounted on said fourth shaft for rotation therewith, said direct drive driven and driving gears meshing with each other, an idler reverse gear rotatable in said housing and intermeshing between said driving and driven reverse gears, eighth means disposed for engaging and actuating selectively either of said reverse and direct drive clutches, and ninth-means disposed for engaging and actuating selectively either of said high and low speed clutches, whereby the speed and direction of movement of said carriage may be automatically regulated according to a predetermined pattern, characterized further in that said eighth and ninth means are so constructed and arranged that the carriage moves longitudinally along the table at high speed with the high speed clutch engaged to rotate the fourth shaft at high speed, tenth cam means carried jointly by said carriage and said table and adapted when brought into action to disengage said high speed clutch and to thereupon engage said low speed clutch to cause the carriage to move thereafter at low speed, the table carried portion of said tenth cam means being disposed at a predetermined location on the table nearaszoriginally.

4. In a cloth laying machinerof the character described, thecombination of a carriage having Wheels adapted'toride. on a traction surface, a support for saidtraction surface, a motor carried. by said carriage and adapted: to .be actuated-from a power source, a drive-"shaft journaled in said carriage,1means foridriving said;whee1s.from said driveshaft, means-for rotatingsaid drive shaft from said motor for propelling :sai'd carriage; at-

predetermined-rates of speedandaccording to .a

preselected pattern :ofdirection .-and: operation while said motor runstat' substantially constant drive shaft, means for rotatin said drive shaft. speediandin one direction; said last named means; from said motor. fonpropelling said carriage at comprising a housing/carried: by saidzcarria'ge, a predeterminedrates oftspeedzand vaccording'to a poiver output shaft cooperatively interconnectedpreselected pattern of .-direction,: and. operation wi h .saiddrive shaft,-'.isaid power output; shaft. while said motor. runs. at; substantially constant. bleiiijournailesli inrtsaidh-housing, s; po wervinput speed and inone directiongsaid last named means s a .journa e in'said; ousing, be t means 16011-1 comprising a housing lcarried bysaid carriage, a pling saidmotor shaft andsaidpowerinput shaft poweroutput shaft cooperatively interconnected to drive theipower -input:shaft; a seventh gear withisaid driveishaft,isaidapo vera,output shaft mounted on.said.powerinputshaft for;rotation being journaledin said: housing, a powerinput' therew1th,. a sixth shaft journaled-jn 531111110118.- shaft journaledin:saidlhousingfloelt means couing, a pair of high:and.lovwspeedgdriving gears pling said motor shaft and v saidpower input shaft. mounted'on said sixth shaft for=rotaticn there-. to drive'the. power inputshaft, a seventh gear with,;said highspeed gear 'being inr-mesh with: mounted on said powerdnputishaft for rotation said seventh gear whereby the. sixth shaft 18: therewith, a sixth tshaftrjournaled in said housdriven, a fourth shaft journaled insai-dhousinggao ing, .a pair of highzandlow speed drivinggears' a pair of high .2and- -.low speedi-rdrivenrigearsmountedon saidisixth shaft for rotation theremounted onzsai'd fourth shaft:andtintermeshing: with, said highspeed gear being in mesh with respectively with said-"highand-slowspeed -drivsaid seventh gear whereby the sixth shaft is mg. gears-and normally 'free -to'rotate thereon, driven, a fourth shaft journaledinsaid housing, normallydisengaged highandtlowspeedclutches a pair of high-and low -speed--driven gears carried respectively-by said-highand low speed? mounted on'said'fourth'shaft and intermeshing dr ven gearssfor selectivelyvengaging either of; respectively with said-high. andulow speed drivsaid high or low speed drrven-rgears' with saiding gears and normally free 'to rotate thereon, fourthshaft to dIIVfi the; same atl either; highon normally disengaged high andlovwspeedclutches l w peed, a fifth ha t i lj aled 1-11 said hous carried respectively by: said'high'and low speed a, ar a s pl ig .Said'fifth shaft driven gears for-selectively engaging either of f Said poweroutput shaft to'drlve the latt said high or low speed driven gears with said ig gg g q i e f gears mounted fourth shaft to drive the same at'either high or 52 -i e f fi mat n;- reverse low speed, a fifth shaft journaled in said hous- Ve norma' '55 ing, gear means intercoupling said fifth shaft carried by said fifth-shaft drivengearsfor sele'c- -t tively engadinguthemnwithfl d: fifth h ft W1 said power output .shaft to drive the latter, drive'rfihe laztprfieverg p d 5 5 reverse and direct drive driven gears mounted on gears a. Em. gh 2; j z g 1 said fifth shaft 'andfree to rotate thereon, reverse therewith=said direct drive-driven an d"dr i vifig and direct drivenormally disengaged clutches ears'meshing :WithaeachQother aniidlerxreverse a by saiid'fifthishaft driven gear-S for Selec' I attrite tieredassassins n; a1 r1 in eighthmeans g i gg ggggg gggg 5:: gears mounted on said fourth shaft for rotation f e f t g eitheriiotffsaidireverse and direct 6 222 ;223:53 ;witif a rf ih sg 12 1 rive c u c es;iand;nin h-meanszdisposedfor enaging rand actuatingqselectivelyeither-ofsaid 1" gearlrotataplg f d i f mtermes'hmg EfJXfit-ZiitiitiftiSitftfifilfff? 1 mo emen=o -88.1 carriage be.automaticallyvregulated accordingpref) ing selectivelyeitherof said reverse and direct determined pattern; .characterized further in that a i clutches, and ninthime-ansdisposed for thirtgentn egrdiogrrtegpthcam ctuatin means easin d ua -s ly. e i f said are ispos-e 'onhe able nearand at, respechigh and low. speed-clutches, whereby the speed tively, the end of said tab1e,=an'd-means brought and direction of movement of said carriage may into action upnn contactiof saidcarriage. with 1-1 be .automaticallyregulated(according .to a pre- 10 the reverse directionracross the table while the 7 motor continues .to'rotate-in thesamedirection said thirteenthzcamractuating:meamforactuate1 ingsaid ninth meansto disengagesaid high speed I clutch andito thereupon :engage said. low speeda clutch, to thereafter cause: theicarriage. to move 5 :toward the table and at low speed, and so arrangedthat when the'carriagecontacts'the said. fourteenth cam actuating means, said ninth means is actuated to disengage said low speed clutchand to re-engage said high speed clutch, and further arranged that upon contact with said fourteenth cam; actuatingmeans, said eighth means is actuated to simultaneously' disengage said direct drive. clutchand-to engagesaid reverse drive clutch, whereupon the carriage is caused thereafterto move-across the :table in the opposite direction; to'its approach, andat immediate high speed.

5. In a cloth laying machine-of the character described, the combination of a carriage having wheelsadaptedto ride :on a traction surface, a

support for said traction surface, a motor carried by said carriage; andadaptedtolbe actuated from' a power source, a drivershaftjournaled in said carriage; means for.drivingz'saidiwheels' from said determined pattern, characterized further in that thirteenth and fourteenth cam actuating means are disposed on the table near and at, respectively, the ends of said table, the mechanism being so arranged that during the travel of said carriage opposite thirteenth cam actuating means said eighth and ninth means maintain said high speed clutch in engagement, and either the direct or reverse drive clutch in engagement depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage, thirteenth cam and lever linkage means acting between said cam actuating means and said eighth and ninth means respectively, whereby when the carriage reaches the said thirteenth cam actuating means said thirteenth cam and lever linkage is brought into action to disengage said high speed clutch and to engage said low speed clutch to cause the carriage to continue its movement in the same direction but at reduced speed, and whereby, when the carriage reaches the table end, said fourteenth cam actuating means is engaged with said thirteenth cam and lever linkage to bring it into action to cause said eighth and ninth means to disengage said low speed clutch and to re-engage said high speed clutch, and to simultaneously disengage said direct drive clutch and to engage said reverse drive clutch, whereupon with the motor continuing to run in its original direction, the carriage is caused to reverse its direction of motion on the table, and simultaneously to move away from the adjacent table end immediately at high speed, this process being repeated similarly as the carriage approaches the opposite table end.

6. In a cloth laying machine of the character described, the combination of a carriage adapted to ride on a traction surface, motive power mounted on said carriage for movement therewith, a main driving shaft on said carriage for causing said carriage to travel, means for causing said driving shaft to be driven from said motive power, to cause said carriage to travel in one direction at a relatively high rate of speed, means automatically rendered effective after said carriage has travelled a predetermined distance at such high speed for changing the rate of travel of said carriage to a relatively slower speed, means automatically rendered effective after a predetermined distance of travel of said carriage at said slower speed to reverse the direction of travel of said carriage and means substantially simultaneously automatically rendered effective with said last named means for restoring the speed of travel of said carriage to its original relatively high rate of speed.

7. In a cloth laying machine of the character described, the combination of a carriage adapted to ride on a traction surface, a support for said traction surface, a first cam device mounted on said support, a second cam device mounted on said support and spaced from said first cam device, means for driving said carriage, in one direction at a relatively high rate of speed, means on said carriage cooperating with said first cam device for automatically lessening the speed of travel of said carriage up to a given point beyond said first cam device, means automatically rendered effective at said given point for reversing the direction of travel of said carriage and automatic means substantially simultaneously rendered effective with said last named means for restoring the rate of travel of said carriage to its original high rate of speed past said first cam device Without being elfected thereby and continu ing at such high rate of speed until reaching said second cam device.

8. In a cloth laying machine, the combination according to claim 1, in which means are provided on said carriage for adjustably taking up slack in said sprocket chains.

HERMAN WALTER GILBERT. WALTER DEICHMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,133,135 Doran Oct. 11, 1938 2,351,183 Blackburn June 13, 1944 2,360,869 Gilbert et al Oct. 24, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 649,521 Germany July 25, 1933 

